Device to improve the preparedness to sleep of human beings



May 14, 1968 H. LUPKE ETAL DEVICE TO IMPROVE THE PREPAREDNESS TO SLEEP OF HUMAN BEINGS Filed Jan. 24, 1966 Fig.1

United States Patent 3,382,509 DEVICE TO IMPROVE THE PREPAREDNESS TO SLEEP OF. HUMAN BEINGS Hellmuth Liipke, Neuer Wall 41, and Walter Schaake, Neuer Wall 51-53, both of Hamburg, Germany Filed Jan. 24, 1966, Ser. No. 522,493 Claims priority, application Gfrmany, Jan. 30, 1965, 49 8 Claims. 61. 5-337 ABSTRACT OF THE DiscLosuRE Sleeplessness is often a sickness and a common problem and extreme care should be exercised in the use of a strong hypnotic to overcome the problem. The limit between the more strongly effective soporifics, i.e. the hypnotics, and the less effective calming means, i.e. the sedative, cannot be made definite. As a rule, they are taken in the form of powder or tablets mixed with water. Apart from the fact that the use thereof bears in it the germ to repeated use of constantly increasing doses, undesired secondary effects may be caused when taking such remedies.

On the other hand, herbs are known as drugs having a sedative and even hypnotic effect. The use of medicinal herbs in the form of herb bags is not unknown in peoples medical science and here one has also made use now and then of herb bags to remedy sleeplessness. The use of such herb bags to remedy sleeplessness, however, was inhibited by so many shortcomings that to remedy sleeplessness such herb bags practically were left out of consideration. I

It is the object of the invention to provide a device to improve the preparedness of human beings to sleep using herbs having sedative or hypnotic effects, respectively, enclosed in a sleeve permeable to gas, said sleeve avoiding the shortcomings of the above mentioned herb bags.

In accordance with the invention, this object is obtained in that a cushion is formed of a gas permeable pillow case and a gas permeable bed-tick, the bed-tick thereof serving to accommodate a mixture of herbs having sedative and hypnotic effects, respectively, and a sedatively indifferent filling material having an extensive inner surface. In this manner, a cushion is formed the individual components of which, i.e. the pillow case, the bed-tick, the mixture of herbs, and the filling material may be selected and adapted to each other in such a manner that the full effect of the mixture of herbs is obtained with out being impaired by shortcomings of the construction of the cushion.

The large inner surface of the filling material, in particular, not only the mixture of the herbs uniformly distributed within the bed-tick but the fine dust particles of the mixture of the herbs, are unable to penetrate through the openings of the bed-tick and the pillow case and cannot become effective there to irritate the person trying to sleep, but are retained by the filling material, be it merely mechanically or be it as a result of electrostatic charging.

The essential oils of such herbs are still effective even in extreme dilutions and with the various partially still 3,382,509 Patented May 14, 1968 unknown accompanying substances often are effective even better than insulated pure substances. With such a mixture of herbs, one may enhance the desired effect by skillful combination of suitable effective substances. According to the Biirgi rule the effects of substances are adding if they are effective in the same manner and are directed to the same point of attack. The function of the cells is influenced in a greater extent by small doses of unlike substances than by a pharmacologically effective substance in increased doses.

It is obtained by the invention that the mild smell of the essential oils of such a mixture of herbs is inhaled. It is known that the sensations caused by smellinghave an influence on the overall well-being of a person. The path of the air a person inhales extends through the nasal cavity via the smelling area of the pituitary membrane, the throat, the larynx and the trachea branching into the two bronchia, into the two lungs. The lungs, in their alveola, possess a reabsorption area of to cm. for gases and vapours. Owing to the largeness of the reabsorption area and the fact that gases absorbed reach the circulation of the blood very quickly and in a high concentration, they may become effective quickly. In the atomization of medicines which forms the basis for inhalation, the reabsorption is the better the smaller the droplets of the atomization and the farther they con equently may invade into the bronchia and even the alveola. Such a fine atomization is not usually obtained with ordinary inhalation apparatuses.

In the case of the invention, however, the effective components reach the deeper breathing paths when the air laden with the easily volatile essential oils is inhaled. Just for this purpose it is also of importance that with the aid of the invention the breathing air laden with the easily volatile essential oils is free of any fine dust particles of herbs which might cause phenomena of irritation with quite a number of people wanting to sleep.

Preferably, the filling material consists of low thermally conductive material. This is recommendable in order to enhance evaporation of the essential oils under the influence of the warmth of the body of the person wanting to sleep. Furthermore, 'the low conductive material of the filling stuff helps'to make the sleeper feel some warmth of the cushion.

It is furthermore recommended to make the filling stuff of some electrostatically chargeable material. In this manner the capability of the filling stuff to retain fine dust particles of the mixture of the herbs is enhanced.

Preferably, the filling stuff consists of fibers. A filling stuff of wool fibers and, in particular, of natural wool shorn from sheep, have proved to be especially well suited to carry the invention into practice. Natural wool from sheep is an especially poor thermal conductor. In addition, the good felting property of the wool, i.e. the considerable crimping power of the natural wool of sheep constitutes a property which is also valuable for carrying the invention into practice. Under the influence of moisture, heat and pressure, the wool fibers by curling and intimate interlocking, push themselves one into the other to form a solid mass; they are felting. This capability of the wool fibers is enhanced by their scaled tilelike surface.

This surface of the wool fibers now assists them in their activity of retaining the fine dust particles stemming from the herbs. In this connection, also an electrostatic charge of the fibers should be of importance. Although natural wool, especially in the form of wool shorn from the sheep, is particularly well suited to form the filling stuff for the cushion in accordance with the invention, the invention may be carried out also with the aid of other fibers. These include not only chemical fibers on the basis of cellulose (synthetic wool) and on the basis of albuis the stronger.

acryl fibers. Here as wella crimping of the fibers to assume a wool-like structure will be recommendable. But. the scaled surface of the natural wool fiber here is hardly obtainable. But the retention of fine herb dust particles owingto electrostatic charging in the case of these fibers thetic fibers, above all, in the form of polyamide or-.poly- Itmis also recommendable to makethefilling stuif of several layers, with a layerwof cornminutedherbs inter posed between these layers. it

The felting capacity of .thecrimping power of the re- 7 spective fiber used by the fillingstulf .is of importance also layer is available.

- As a rule it will be recommendable toprovide layers of wool shorn from sheepno matterofwhat type of build-up, onthe outwardly facingsides' or the filling of the bed-tick, because wool shorn from sheep is known as a remedy for neuralgic diseases which partially form a reason for sleeplessness. p

Finally, the invention provides for. thebed-tick to comprise in addition an upholstery material with elastic properties transversely of the cushion. Preferably, the up holstery material consists of artificial foam material, in particulanin comminuted form. This upholstery material may, of course, also be. employed asjan additional carrier to uniformly distribute the mixture of herbs. Instead of this, such an upholstery material may also be constituted by comminuted rubber foam or horsehair, cotton," kapok, sea-grass Y or the like. In general, it will be recommendable to comminute the rubber foam or synthetic foam material so that the upholstery material may be capable of performing not only the upholstering function but at least partially may mixture of herbs. 1 I

The fillingstuff which, in particular, is in the form of may at least also function to store, the

- .Percent (1) Strobuli lu puli 46.875. (2 Fol. melissae 6.25 (3) Fol.'rosmarini 6.25 (4) Rhiz. iridis 0.625

(5) Herb. hyperic 6.25 (6) Flor. chamomile I 6.25 i (7) F01. menthae pip. 6.25 (8) Flor. tiliae 6.25 (9) F01. eucalyptin; 3.1.25. (10) Herba thymi 6.25 (l1) Herba meliloti 3.125 ("12) Flor. lavendulae "h a fibers, preferably, wool fibers, now additionally. takes care sedative, it will be to the purpose to use also quite a number of other sedatives. Here it must be taken intoconsideration that toohigha content of certainessential oils when inhaledfor an extended period of time, willhave a benumbing effect onthecentral system of. the nerves and will cause numbness. Suitably, the strobuliflupuli coinponent should comprise at least 30% and preferably about of the total mixture of herbs.

In the example of the mixture Ofthe herbs shown in the following, the components 1+5 preferably have a sedative effect. In addition, itis recommendable to add to the herbs some antispasmodic herbs. .These include especially the drugs mentioned in the following example under (6) and (7). In addition, drugshaving a mucous solving effect are of considerable importance for the mixture of herbs. In this connection, it must bet taken into hasadisinfectant effect, the herbs mentioned under (11) and (12):predominantly serve to correct the smell;

The following table shows by way of example a mixture of herbs composed under these viewpoints to carry out the invention:

The following passages are meant to explain the special effects of the herbs used in this example:

Strobuli lupuli contain essential oil with lupulin and thealkaloid hopein. Effect: calming in case of nervous excitations and sedative in case of sleeplessness caused by nervous disturbances and overexcitement.

Folia melissae contain 1% of essential oil with citral and citronellal. Effect: sedative. and generally calming, slightly lowering the blood pressure, spasmolytic as camomile in case of headache and face-ache:

Foliarosmarini contain 12% of essentialoil with pinene, camphene and borneol. Effect: calming means in conditions of excitation.

Rhizona iridis--contain iron. Effect: calming.

Herba hyperici contain 0.1% of essential oil. Effect: This herb is called an express neurovegetativum (nerve remedy) and because of its nerve calming effect is used against nervous headaches, nervous depressions, irritability, disturbed sleep, nerve spasms and neuralgia in the face.

Flores chamohtillqge-contain 0.5% of essential oil with about 5-15% azulene. Effect: spasmolytic; often used to treat rheumatic face-aches or face-aches caused by colds. p

Folia menthae piperitae contain 0.71.5% of essential oil with anoverallmenthol content of 50%.Efiect: menthol has an anaesthetising property and paralyses the sensible terminations of the nerves and thereby abolishes to pain and, because of a slight benumbing effect on the irritated nerve terminations also possesses a sedative consideration that the person wanting to sleep can inhale,

the atomized essential. oils only .if the nasal: cavity, the

throat, the larynx, the trachea and the bronchia are free.

spasmodic and/or sedative effect. These mucous solving drugs include the herbs mentioned under (8) and (9) of the following example.

In addition, a disinfectant will preferably be added to prevent the remaining drugs from becoming hardened. Here, also a synthetic disinfectant may eventually be added. While the drug mentioned under (10) preferably In the selection ofthe mucous solving drugs, 'of course, caremust be taken that they possibly alsohave an anti-' effect- Peppermint oil is inhaled also in case of sicknesses affecting the region of nose and throat and the breathing paths.

Flores tiliae contain 0.04% of essential oil. Effect: spasm calming. Because of its mucous solving effect also usefulin case of obstructions ofthe bronchia caus'edby mucus.

Folia eucalyp ti contain eucalyptol. Effect: is often used for inhalation in case of bronchitis. Is intended to have V a mucous solving effect here same as have the flores tiliae and thereby keep the breathing. ways free.

Herba thy/m contain 10% of essential oil with 50% tlryniol, carvacrol. and borneol. Effect: thymol has a considerable disinfecting power and antiseptic effect.

The attached drawing shows two embodiments of the invention, namely FIG. 1 shows a sectional view of a cushion made in accordance with the invention,

FIG. 2 shows a sectional view similar to that of FIG. 1 but of another-embodiment of the invention.

In the two figures, a pillow case is referenced 1 and a pillow bed-tick is referenced 2. In accordance with FIG. 1, there are disposed inside the pillow bed-tick 2 three layers 3 of fibers felted with each other, especially of wool shorn from sheep, said three layers being spaced from each other, the felting hasbeen carried out in such a manner that a self-contained layer of fibers is resulting which, however, is still permeable to gas. Intermediate layers 4 are provided to be interposed between these fiber layers 3 which predominantly consist of a mixture of herbs in the manner as described above. The mixture of herbs in the manner as described above. The mixture of herbs preferably is comminuted. The fact that the herbs are comminuted and the extent of such comminution are not important as the person wanting to sleep will anyway comminute the mixture of herbs by his movements. In the example of embodiment, these layers 4 consist of a combination of comminuted herbs and comminuted synthetic foam material. Instead of this comminuted foam material other upholstery materials may be used as well. It is of significance, however, that these upholstery materials do not quite occupy the space left to them so that the free space may serve to accommodate and store the mixture of herbs.

As shown at 5 in dotted lines, the edges of the fiber layers 3 may be interconnected all around the periphery in order to obtain that the mixture of the herbs remains only between the fiber layers 3. Fiber layers may be used also to connect the edges. But instead of this it is also possible only to sew the edges with each other or cover them by simple fabrics as used, for instance, for the pillow case or the bed-tick.

The embodiment in accordance with FIG. 2 is essentially in register with that in accordance with FIG. 1. Like or corresponding parts bear the same reference numerals. Only the fiber layer of FIG. 2 is made in a different way, it consists of a strip of fibers bent into an S-shape, especially of wool shorn from sheep, which are relatively loosely felted with each other. The space between the individual layers is again occupied by a mixture of herbs to which additionally a preferably comminuted upholstery material has been added.

The invention may also be carried in such a way that bags of a material permeable to gas are placed between the fiber layers 3 of FIG. 1 or the fiber layers 6 of FIG. 2, said bags serving again to receive a mixture of especially comminuted upholstery material and the mixture of herbs.

Instead of this, it is also possible to make sort of bags of the especially felted fiber material, the interior of said bags again serving to accommodate a mixture of upholstery material and mixture of herbs.

An especially simple embodiment of the invention results if the wool, especially wool shorn from sheep, in a plucked condition is possibly uniformly mixed with the mixture of herbs. This combination of material, now, is charged into the bed-tick. Supplementary to this, also a possibly uniform mixture of plucked wool, mixed herbs and comminuted upholstery material may be made whereupon said combination of material is charged into the bedtick. It will be seen from the above in any case the combination of a filling material having a large inner surface with the mixture of herbs is essential. The addition of the upholstery material is suitable but not necessary.

What we claim is:

1. A pillow for aiding and inducing sleeping comprising, in combination, a pillow tick, said tick being formed of a gas permeable material, a mixture of herbs contained within said tick having a plurality of soporific volatile components which aid and induce human sleep upon being inhaled, fibres located within said tick to render said pillow soft and compressible, said fibres forming sheet portions, said sheet portions defining layers within said tick, and said herbs being located between said fibre sheet portion layers.

2. A pillow as in claim 1 wherein said fibres are electrostatically charged whereby herb dust within said tick adheres to said fibres.

3. A pillow as in claim 1 wherein said fibres are of low thermal conductivity.

4. A pillow as in claim 1 wherein said fibres are of natural wool.

5. In a pillow as in claim 1, a compressible elastic comminuted foam material located within said tick.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,021,237 11/1935 Karr 5-355 2,298,218 10/1942 Madson 5337 2,368,930 2/1945 Lenz 5-355 2,942,280 6/1960 May 5-334 3,082,768 3/1963 Johns 5-337 X 3,242,508 3/1966 Smithson 5-355 X FOREIGN PATENTS 473,604 2/1926 Germany.

1,079,794 4/ 1960 Germany.

CASMIR A. NUNBERG, Primary Examiner.

BOBBY R. GAY, DAVID J. WILLIAMOWSKY,

Examiners. A. M. CALVERT, Assistant Examiner. 

